The vote drew little discussion on the $1 million professional services contract. The firm will do the design work for the new building, which will be located across the street from the main courthouse on Fourth Street in downtown Panama City.

Collins & Associates will work with two other architectural firms on the $13.5 million project, DAG Architects of Destin and Heery Design of Orlando. Based on county projections the addition should be finished in spring 2015.

After Tuesday’s meeting, Chairman George Gainer reaffirmed the commission likely will accept a loan for the project from BBVA Compass Bank later this month. The commission already locked in the terms, 2.99 percent for 25 years, in November.

Gainer said the commission has “pretty much decided” to move forward on the project. “Spending a million dollars is a pretty good commitment,” he said.

He said the county needed the addition 10 years ago. “We’d like to move along as fast as we can,” Gainer said.

The vote drew little discussion on the $1 million professional services contract. The firm will do the design work for the new building, which will be located across the street from the main courthouse on Fourth Street in downtown Panama City.

Collins & Associates will work with two other architectural firms on the $13.5 million project, DAG Architects of Destin and Heery Design of Orlando. Based on county projections the addition should be finished in spring 2015.

After Tuesday’s meeting, Chairman George Gainer reaffirmed the commission likely will accept a loan for the project from BBVA Compass Bank later this month. The commission already locked in the terms, 2.99 percent for 25 years, in November.

Gainer said the commission has “pretty much decided” to move forward on the project. “Spending a million dollars is a pretty good commitment,” he said.

He said the county needed the addition 10 years ago. “We’d like to move along as fast as we can,” Gainer said.

County Manager Ed Smith stressed after the vote that the addition won’t be paid for with taxes. A $30 fee tacked on to civil infractions, the bulk of which are speeding tickets, will be used to pay down the debt. Smith said the point needed to be made because he heard on a morning radio show taxpayers would be funding the project.

Commissioner Mike Thomas also said there is taxpayer responsibility with the project because if the infraction penalty revenue dried up, the county’s general fund would cover the debt payments. He said the county, however, has waited long enough to be confident the revenue stream will be stable.

“We’ve done good due diligence,” he said.

Gainer said the county took the correct approach in funding the addition. He said those who are using the courthouse due to civil infractions will be paying for it.

“The county has got to have an adequate courthouse,” Gainer said.

After the meeting, Gainer said the money from the civil infractions likely will increase. He said even if it dips some, there will be enough to cover the debt payments.

Gainer said he’s been “very much involved” with the project’s planning, and going forward he wants to make sure the judges get what they need and the new building’s aesthetics match the current courthouse’s.

In other business Tuesday:

— The commission accepted a $145,110 Federal Emergency Management Agency “wind retrofit grant” to strengthen the Bay County Sheriff’s Office on State 77.

— The commission voted unanimously to grant the St. Joe Co.’s request for a 30-year extension on its agreement with the county for the RiverCamps on Crooked Creek development.

— The commission voted unanimously to clean up a house at 313 Baldwin Road and put a lien against the property for the expense.